Rapid Prototyping for Competitive Advantage

Technologies, Applications and Implementation for Market Success

Rapid Prototyping for Competitive Advantage: Technologies, Applications and Implementation for Market Success Paul T. Kidd 1997, ISBN 1-901864-00-6

Contents   KEY ACTION POINTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY READING GUIDE Guide 1: Overview of the business issues Guide 2: Understanding the technologies Guide 3: Understanding application potential Guide 4: Application to help achieve business objectives Guide 5: Using the technologies to support innovation Guide 6: Enabling new niche marketing strategies Guide 7: Development and exploitation of change competencies Guide 8: Organisational issues Guide 9: Benefits and costs Guide 10: Using rapid prototyping bureaux CHAPTER 1: OVERVIEW - RAPID PROTOTYPING AND TURBULENT MARKETS Introduction Brief overview of rapid prototyping The benefits Key questions to be asked Time and cost savings Innovation The business environment context Niche marketing Change competency Knowledge management The importance of organisational and culture change Rapid prototyping and the smaller company Different approaches to applying rapid prototyping A road map to implementation and application Understanding application potential Investigating the strategic dimension Developing knowledge of the costs involved Adopting an appropriate assessment and implementation process Developing a business case Comparing rapid prototyping technologies CHAPTER 2: EXAMPLE APPLICATIONS Purpose and summary How to use this chapter Thematic summaries of case examples Rapid creation of tooling Rapid creation of functional prototypes Design verification, form and fit analysis Comprehensive range of applications Improving communications Supporting product innovation Direct use in production Developing and improving design/testing methods Application within a concurrent engineering framework Synergy with computer-aided design and engineering systems Continuous improvement and rapid prototyping research and development Centralised rapid prototyping facilities Support for product customisation Comprehensive education and training for designers Applications in the automotive industry ACTech BMW Chrysler Corporation Daewoo Motors Ford Motor Company General Motors Mercedes-Benz Morgan Motor Company Porsche Rockwell Automotive Rover Group Webster Mouldings Applications in the aerospace industry AOA Snecma Texas Instruments Volvo Aero Corporation Applications in the electrical and electronic industries AMP Inc Brook Hansen GEC ALSTHOM T&D Myrica Square D Company Applications in the consumer goods industry Buddy/L Electrolux Applications in the medical technology industry Danek Medical DePuy Inc Surgical Innovations Ltd Wright Medical Technology Applications in other industries ABB Fläkt Industri Andersen Corporation LM Industries Lufkin Industries CHAPTER 3: THE STRATEGIC DIMENSION Purpose and summary A modern strategic view Interrelationships between strategy and technology Enabling innovation The strategic issues The strategic nature of the technologies Strategic assessment The technologies as enablers of new strategies Strategic potential The impact of rapid prototyping on the achievement of business objectives Exploiting strategic benefits in the marketplace Exploiting lead time reductions Exploiting improved product quality Exploiting improved development productivity Supporting expeditionary marketing Strategic aspects of organisational and culture changes An example of strategically driven organisational change Reorganising new product development Development of change competencies Operational change competence Tactical change competence Strategic change competence Achieving change competence Development and exploitation of knowledge Knowledge of the customer Knowledge of the technology Process knowledge Other strategic issues - globalisation and other information technologies CHAPTER 4: THE COST DIMENSION Purpose and summary The costs of rapid prototyping Additional information technologies Computer hardware and software Pre- and post-processing technologies Rapid tooling technologies Consultancy support Recruitment and training Organisational and working practice changes New or upgraded utilities Consumable materials Spares, maintenance and repairs Office and factory layout changes Working capital Bureau services Supply chain development Health and safety compliance Learning curve Implications CHAPTER 5: AN ASSESSMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS Purpose and summary How to use this chapter Review of issues Major factors affecting the assessment and implementation process Interrelationship between strategy and technology Pace of technological change Complexity of the issues Potentially high capital costs A suggested assessment and implementation approach Structure of the process Stage 1 - Initial assessment Gate 1 - First management review and decision point Stage 2 - Detailed assessment Gate 2 - Second management review and decision point Stage 3 - The implementation project Feedback loops - periodic reviews Managing technical and organisational change Checklists for managing change Basics Beginning to move beyond the present situation Actions to support change Organisational impacts of technical features Assessing bureaux from a supply chain perspective Tactics to deal with difficulties Demonstration project Adopting use of bureaux services as a starting point Benchmarking other industries Research and development projects CHAPTER 6: DEVELOPING A BUSINESS CASE Purpose and summary How to use this chapter Undertaking strategic assessment Technical importance Business importance Competitive advantage Quantifying intangible benefits Issues to address in the business case document Describe the current situation and implications Describe alternative options and recommendation Describe recommended changes to strategy Describe organisational and culture change issues and implications Describe strategic importance Describe the departments where benefits will be achieved Describe the potential new revenues generated Describe the cost savings that will be achieved Describe the costs Describe the results of the evaluation and selection process Other matters CHAPTER 7: RAPID PROTOTYPING AND TOOLING TECHNOLOGIES Purpose and summary Rapid prototyping and tooling technologies Rapid prototyping technologies Stereolithography Ballistic particle manufacturing Selective laser sintering Fused deposition modelling Solid ground curing Laminated object manufacturing Rapid tooling technologies Investment casting Direct shell production casting Sand casting Laser sintered sand casting moulds and cores Silicone vacuum moulding Spray metal tooling Terminology Factors to consider when evaluating and comparing rapid prototyping technologies APPENDIX: SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION Useful literature The business environment context to rapid prototyping New product development Other reports on rapid prototyping Rapid prototyping technologies Detailed case studies Specialised publications Managing technical change Conferences Organisations Membership based associations Other organisations Vendor information 3D Systems BPM Technologies Inc Cubital Ltd DTM Corporation EOS GmbH Helisys Inc Sanders Prototype Inc Soligen Technologies Inc Stratasys Inc World wide web sites